Double pass -- more than a gimmick?

I'm wondering whether it's realistic to return more than very rarely to the double pass well. For the most part, I think the answer is "No". Edelman was a passer without a lot of pass blocking and with only one possible receiver. If somebody had been serious about covering Amendola, the whole thing would have turned into a low-percentage play.

That's the bad news. The good news is that swinging the ball to Julian Edelman for a catch-and-run starting well behind the LOS is not necessarily a bad play, if that's what winds up happening.

What I can't decide is if, assuming Edelman catches the ball and runs with it, whether I'd rather have a DB chasing Amendola down the field or a DB being blocked by Amendola. I lean to the latter.

I've womdered that myself. I think the fans have thought this might be coming since Edelman started playing, just when you figure it won't happen, they do it. Ballsy call IMO, because if it didn't work, the media would have killed him. "You have a HOF QB, and you have the receiver throw a pass."

I would do it again, but I don't know if we'll ever see it again.

Gimmick are a rare and wonderful thing. I would rather not have the Pats need to use them at all, but the Ravens were a tough out, and they were too ****y. That being said, every team from now on will have to be cautious of us running a scam on every play. May slow them down a bit so that's a big plus!

I think it ends up being better if Amendola lures a defender away from the play. With that being said, it all comes down to timing. This play depends on the defense, and the Pats couldn't have called this play at a better time.

On a side note, it was fitting that a player wearing 80 was on the receiving end of this trick play. After all, Troy Brown only played for the Pats, so you figured he'd only have caught TD passes from 2 players (Bledsoe and Brady), but you'd be wrong.

Brown also caught TD receptions from Dave Meggett, David Patten, Adam Vinatieri, and Vinny Testeverde.

If it helps them win, the Patriots should use every option available to them.

Bill breaks down the "gimmick" nicely here. Obviously well practiced and executed.

http://www.patriots.com/media-cente...t-Ravens/42df1ca8-4621-4457-81f0-91e7104c50cc

brdmaverick said:

I think it ends up being better if Amendola lures a defender away from the play. With that being said, it all comes down to timing. This play depends on the defense, and the Pats couldn't have called this play at a better time.

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It's pretty amazing. The Ravens blitzed so the quick screen play call already beat them. No one was near Edelman, and Gronkowski had no one to block. He could have ran it for a first down. Someone with All-22 will have to say how far Edelman could have run before being met by a defender if he went that route.

Gimmicks are great -- when they work. Yet there's a reason why you only see only a few gimmick plays called. The percentages are not easily defined versus the percentages that are easily definable (for example a play call to Gronk or LaFell or Edelman etc). As an HC or OC, do you want to call plays that are ???? to succeed, or will you want to call plays that have been run in many games on many occasions and has worked 60% of the time?

With that said, a gimmick play can be thrown once a game if you see the secondary leaning one way aggressively. When that ball went to Edelman, the Raven defense instantly began converging to that part of the field. I have no idea if this was the case, however, I assume BB/JM saw this on film in other games and/or saw it happening a lot in this game ((in my recollection it is rare to see the over the top coverage so quickly and so completely give up on a receiver running a deep route)).

So if the right situation arises, make them pay for it with a gimmick play. And once the D stops leaning one way due to being burned for it by the gimmick play, now start taking advantage of where they are no longer leaning.

OhExaulted1 said:

Bill breaks down the "gimmick" nicely here. Obviously well practiced and executed.

http://www.patriots.com/media-cente...t-Ravens/42df1ca8-4621-4457-81f0-91e7104c50cc

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It's interesting when you get some time to sit down and watch these plays and realize how well designed they are. Sure, they're going to show you the plays that worked but geez, isn't it a feather in the cap that the coaches are doing their maximum to help scheme for the players.

I feel like a real idiot for continually harping on about our coordinators but both of them, in spots, do a really good job. Where Belichick excels is having his team drilled enough to execute these plays. It's also a great advertisement for doing your job. You're still a valuable cog in the system without the football.

I just have to say this was one of my favorite football moments ever. I felt like a little kid. I was just giddy. Getting the trick play, the touchdown, Edelman running down field swinging his arm, and the fact that it was the play that completed our SECOND 14 point comeback... I won't forget this play for the rest of my life.

Trick plays are nice tricks. I hope we see a 100% conventional offense this Sunday and the only time we see these plays again are in desperation mode.

That's where they belong. You save them for when you need them.

Never use them simply because you have them, that's showing your hand WAY too early. You could make an argument that using them might keep your out of trouble but I'm staying in the other camp.

I only want those plays if we need them, and we needed them last Saturday. That's exactly why they worked, we never showed them, even in losses. Season on the line, the definition of desperation, those plays bailed us out and kept us alive to play this weekend.

The Wildcat was a gimmick born (revived) out of such desperation (in the NFL) to defeat the mighty New England Patriots and their backup quarterbacks. That formation took to the NFL like wildfire after tearing us down in a single game. After it was diagnosed it became a comedy reel to watch teams try and run, because everyone wanted to try it and reap the benefits of the formation that broke us.

That's why trick plays are trick plays. They're hardly ever touched. They generally reek of desperation.

brdmaverick said:

Brown also caught TD receptions from Dave Meggett, David Patten, Adam Vinatieri, and Vinny Testeverde.

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That would be a good trivia question. Is there anybody who threw a TD pass as a Patriot while Brown was on the team who didn't throw one to Brown? I think Bledsoe was pretty iron until the finger (and then the Mo Lewis hit), and I don't recall other RB/WR throwers (Faulk never threw a TD pass).

slam said:

Gronkowski had no one to block.

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There was one guy, actually. Gronk didn't engage with him as a pass blocker, but he would have if Edelman had been running with the ball.

I'm not a big fan of throwing laterals but Edelman's pass was so perfect. We didn't need a deep threat, we just needed Edelman to qb lol. I'm wondering if Edelman has the ability to connect with Slater lol.

It's a not a play you can keep going back to but the next time, if ever, Edelman receives a lateral like that the defense will be like a deer in the headlights for a second or two when they decide whether to look for the pass or whether Edelman's going to run. That kind of confusion, even if only for a split second, can only be a good thing.

Fencer said:

That would be a good trivia question. Is there anybody who threw a TD pass as a Patriot while Brown was on the team who didn't throw one to Brown? I think Bledsoe was pretty iron until the finger (and then the Mo Lewis hit), and I don't recall other RB/WR throwers (Faulk never threw a TD pass).

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I think the only guy missing is Scott Zolak.

ausbacker said:

It's interesting when you get some time to sit down and watch these plays and realize how well designed they are. Sure, they're going to show you the plays that worked but geez, isn't it a feather in the cap that the coaches are doing their maximum to help scheme for the players.

I feel like a real idiot for continually harping on about our coordinators but both of them, in spots, do a really good job. Where Belichick excels is having his team drilled enough to execute these plays. It's also a great advertisement for doing your job. You're still a valuable cog in the system without the football.

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Great post. I, too, take the roll the coaching staff has played in this unprecedented run of success that I, as a fan, have enjoyed so much. I for one truly hope Josh stays for another season and Patricia as well. The players themselves laude them regularly.

The continuity from the top of the orginization down is unparalelled. Nick Caserio staying is such a huge plus as well and although Bill gets all the credit for the brilliant midseason moves but there is no doubt Nick's stamp is all over the entire team and his role should not be underestimated. If we're able to keep this staff intact for next year it will be a near miracle as these guys are in such high demand. Everyone wants to be associated with a winner.

I find it a little more than curious that the only report of McDaniels staying derives solely from one guy from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Orlando Leadbetter) who cites no sources and the quick excerpt sounds more like his own speculation rather than a rock solid statement from multiple credible sources. I'll reserve speculation until someone gets the hire there. I know Bowles was scheduled for a second interveiw, but curiously took the Jets job.

We'll see, but I for one hope we keep the band together for one more tour.

ausbacker said:

It's interesting when you get some time to sit down and watch these plays and realize how well designed they are. Sure, they're going to show you the plays that worked but geez, isn't it a feather in the cap that the coaches are doing their maximum to help scheme for the players.

I feel like a real idiot for continually harping on about our coordinators but both of them, in spots, do a really good job. Where Belichick excels is having his team drilled enough to execute these plays. It's also a great advertisement for doing your job. You're still a valuable cog in the system without the football.

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It's a great feeling as a coach to work on specific situations and then have it come up exactly as you said it would. Belichick seems to be the best at that as we hear so often from his players.

This time they worked on the halfback pass, the ineligible receiver play and taking a better angle and high pointing on deep passes. Check. Check. Check.

I was being too critical of Josh earlier this year, but once I looked back it was clear that most of our offensive failures occurred when he wasn't here

they could also fake to Minitron, and have a third receiver on the opposite side of the field get wide open for brady

It's a good option play to use from time to time, throw Edelman the lateral and if the DBs bite throw it over them, if they got with the receivers then run it.